Agassi with Donnay?!?!?

I was watching the WTT (which I'm pretty sure not a lot of people care about) match between the Boston Lobsters VS NY Sportimes. As watching Agassi against McEnroe men's singles match, I realized that Agassi was not playing with the Head Radical. Here's some pics

I must say, I'm surprised to see Agassi playing tennis! Just a few years ago he stated on "60 Minutes" that he hates/hated tennis and also wrote that in his book "Open" ?????????? Sorry, if I went off-topic here, I realize you probably want to talk about Tennis Racquets.

I've made a lot of lofty GROAT predictions in the past few years in public and in private, but I will say that this racquet will most likely alter the course of the sport for many years to come. Agassi's rebirth and path back to the top will start with this epic stick.

I must say, I'm surprised to see Agassi playing tennis! Just a few years ago he stated on "60 Minutes" that he hates/hated tennis and also wrote that in his book "Open" ?????????? Sorry, if I went off-topic here, I realize you probably want to talk about Tennis Racquets.

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He hated the way his old man pushed him into it; sent him to Bolleteri's Academy and away from his friends against his will. Now he can play when he wants - and he realizes it's a good way to keep his name and school in the public eye.

Well, Nike had their chance to keep him and they blew it. Funny how Steffi's relationship with adidas ended up trumping Andre's with Nike. I think he made a wise decision.

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Nike didn't 'blow it' and Steffi's Adidas gig had nothing to do with it: Agassi tried to shake down Nike for money for his school; more than Nike was willing to part with. Adidas was just the next biggest fish in the apparel ocean and they caved in.

He hated the way his old man pushed him into it; sent him to Bolleteri's Academy and away from his friends against his will. Now he can play when he wants - and he realizes it's a good way to keep his name and school in the public eye.

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Yes, I read his book. But, he did hate tennis the whole time he played not just when the old man forced him to play. Its likely that being retired he has a lot of time on his hands and Tennis is his identity and he likes being in the limelight.

Yes, I read his book. But, he did hate tennis the whole time he played not just when the old man forced him to play. Its likely that being retired he has a lot of time on his hands and Tennis is his identity and he likes being in the limelight.

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Let reel this into the Former Pro Player talk.

Back to Pros' Racquets and Gear. I wonder why he chose the X-P Dual? He looks more like a Formula 100 user. Or it would have been cool to maybe debut the Pro One OS.

hes probably still with head, my guess is he tried out one of couriers racquets in practice or something and liked it so much that he decided to use it in a wtt match (hes not signed with donnay i.e. no stencil)

That's not true. When he came back, head shaved, and had his revival, he was loving it. Until the back problems...

Donnay is trying hard to get back in the racquet game; Agassi is certainly well known.

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It's not the same Donnay that was from Belgium. These guys who are licensing the Donnay name are from New York. Also the Company that has owned the Donnay name since 1996 is Sports Direct. The same company that has owned Dunlop since 2004.

It's not the same Donnay that was from Belgium. These guys who are licensing the Donnay name are from New York. Also the Company that has owned the Donnay name since 1996 is Sports Direct. The same company that has owned Dunlop since 2004.

The company that has the US licence to slap a name on Chinese made tennis racquet's and call them Donnay for a fee to UK owned superstore Sports Direct has zero to do with the Belgian Donnay and past glories, players, etc....again...for the 50th time.

The company that has the US licence to slap a name on Chinese made tennis racquet's and call them Donnay for a fee to UK owned superstore Sports Direct has zero to do with the Belgian Donnay and past glories, players, etc....again...for the 50th time.

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The NY based operation has a 30 year licence to the Donnay name so I have been told.

He hated the way his old man pushed him into it; sent him to Bolleteri's Academy and away from his friends against his will. Now he can play when he wants - and he realizes it's a good way to keep his name and school in the public eye.

Nike didn't 'blow it' and Steffi's Adidas gig had nothing to do with it: Agassi tried to shake down Nike for money for his school; more than Nike was willing to part with. Adidas was just the next biggest fish in the apparel ocean and they caved in.

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You honestly think Steffi's relationship with adidas had nothing to do with Andre going that way? That seems highly unlikely. And you think adidas seeing a chance to snag one of Nike's main guys, even at the end of his career, was them "caving in"? That was a PR opportunity too good to pass up, not to mention the chance to support good being done by the school. The amazing part is that Nike was unwilling to pony up the money for Agassi's school, when they certainly made enough off of Andre's work for years and years, and adidas was. Good to see Nike is an all-American company in the greed department.

You honestly think Steffi's relationship with adidas had nothing to do with Andre going that way? That seems highly unlikely. And you think adidas seeing a chance to snag one of Nike's main guys, even at the end of his career, was them "caving in"? That was a PR opportunity too good to pass up, not to mention the chance to support good being done by the school. The amazing part is that Nike was unwilling to pony up the money for Agassi's school, when they certainly made enough off of Andre's work for years and years, and adidas was. Good to see Nike is an all-American company in the greed department.

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I doubt Nike made very much profit, if anything at all, off of Agassi over the years. They paid him like over $100 million over the years. I highly doubt Nike made over an additional $100 million in profit just because of Agassi. In fact, the tennis market has never been a big profit maker for Nike, hence the never ending rumors that they may shut down their tennis business. I think the only thing that has kept it alive all of these years is that the CEO Phil Knight personally like tennis, because it certainly hasn't been because of the incredible profits.

I doubt Nike made very much profit, if anything at all, off of Agassi over the years. They paid him like over $100 million over the years. I highly doubt Nike made over an additional $100 million in profit just because of Agassi. In fact, the tennis market has never been a big profit maker for Nike, hence the never ending rumors that they may shut down their tennis business. I think the only thing that has kept it alive all of these years is that the CEO Phil Knight personally like tennis, because it certainly hasn't been because of the incredible profits.

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according to a relative of mine who works in the athletic shoe field it costs most large shoemakers (nike included) somewhere between $5-7 USD to make a pair of sneakers (ie. Vapors). Without getting into the details of what nike charges retailers for the shoes, varying prices, marketing amortizations etc.... if nike clears a profit of $50 per shoe Nike needs to sell 200,000 shoes per year to break even. I'm willing to bet Nike clears that in the US market alone. Count the rest of the world and they double their money on their 100 mil investment in Aggassi

according to a relative of mine who works in the athletic shoe field it costs most large shoemakers (nike included) somewhere between $5-7 USD to make a pair of sneakers (ie. Vapors). Without getting into the details of what nike charges retailers for the shoes, varying prices, marketing amortizations etc.... if nike clears a profit of $50 per shoe Nike needs to sell 200,000 shoes per year to break even. I'm willing to bet Nike clears that in the US market alone. Count the rest of the world and they double their money on their 100 mil investment in Aggassi

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I can GUARANTEE you that Nike does not make a profit of $50 per shoe. The retail mark-up is well over 2X the wholesale price. That's how retailers can put things on sale for 50% off and still make a profit.

Don't forget all the development, engineering, transportation, marketing, sales, advertising, and overhead costs that need to be included into the cost of a pair of shoes. The cost of materials for a shoe may be $7, but add in labor costs, equipment costs, factory overhead, and profit for the factory that Nike contracts to make the shoes. Add in all of these costs and I'd be surprised if Nike makes more than $15 in profit on a pair of shoes after accounting for returns, seconds, discounting after season, etc.

Besides, it's not like nobody would buy Nike shoes if Agassi didn't wear them. So you have to estimate only the INCREMENTAL sales that would not have occurred without Agassi. Was it an incremental $100 million in profits (not sales)? I doubt it.